Slow Cooker Chicken and Red Wine Casserole with Dumplings

This delicious casserole with chicken, bacon and mushrooms topped with soft, fluffy dumplings really is a winner, winner chicken dinner.

Since I returned from the motherland I have been craving all the comfort food and cooking food to warm the heart and the belly. I can’t work out whether this is because a) I am eating my feelings (and missing all my friends and family,) b) I am feeding my jet lag or c) it’s winter down under and the weather demands it. I’m going to hedge my bets and say it’s a wicked combination of all three.

I literally could not wait to dust off my slow cooker and this winter warmer was the most delicious way to get reacquainted with it. Personally, I find slow cooker dinners often ugly but always delicious and this casserole is no exception. Slow cooker dishes can sometimes be a bit sloppy but not with this casserole, the sauce is rich, thick and oh, so flavoursome.

Chicken, bacon and mushrooms are always a winning combination, and they’re next level when you chuck in the most generous glug of red wine. The casserole is stand alone delicious but please don’t miss out on the fluffy mustardy dumplings because dumplings make everything better.

I was going to wait to post this recipe until I got the perfect photo but I think taste always trumps looks. Besides, this recipe was too good not to share because everyone needs to warm themselves up with this this winter, really they do!

Do you believe that dumplings make everything better? Do you prefer food that looks good or tastes good?

Serves 4-6

Ingredients

FOR THE CASSEROLE

1kg chicken breasts

1-2 tablespoons olive oil

3 tablespoons plain flour

2 onions, cut into wedges

6 garlic cloves, peeled and thinly sliced

200g bacon bits

300g large mushrooms, thickly sliced

300ml red wine

200ml chicken stock

2 tablespoons tomato paste

1 bouquet garni

2 bay leaves

FOR THE DUMPLINGS

100g fresh white breadcrumbs

100g self raising flour

100g butter, cubed

1 tablespoon wholegrain mustard

1 teaspoon dried mixed herbs

1/2 teaspoon dried thyme

2 eggs, lightly beaten

How to

Heat oil in large frying pan and brown the chicken in batches. Place in the slow cooker pot.